3 Hazardous Allergens That Might Be Lurking in Your Air Ducts

If you’re an allergy sufferer, you know heading outdoors during allergy season can send your symptoms into overdrive. But what you may not know is that there could be several allergens lurking in your ductwork, and those allergens can trigger annoying symptoms even while you’re indoors. What kind of allergy-triggering substances might your ductwork be harboring? Read on to find out.

Dust Mites

To the naked eye, dust might look relatively harmless. But when you look at it on a microscopic level, it’s a whole different story, and under magnification, it might really gross you out. Why? Because dust harbors microscopic arachnids called dust mites. And hundreds of thousands of those tiny, creepy critters are probably living in your ductwork.

Most people aren’t allergic to the dust mites themselves, but their feces and decomposing carcasses can certainly trigger allergy symptoms. Luckily, a thorough duct cleaning session can completely eliminate these nasty creatures from your air ducts. 

Mold and Mildew

Your air conditioner and heater are designed to help remove excess humidity from the air inside your home, which means your ductwork sees plenty of moisture. That moisture can contribute to mold and mildew proliferation, which can trigger intense allergy symptoms in sensitive individuals.

Not all species of mold cause allergies, but if you’ve noticed your symptoms seem to get worse indoors, mold may be a culprit. That’s especially true if you’re suffering from any of the following health issues:

●        Brain fog

●        Difficulty concentrating

●        Airway inflammation

●        Persistent sneezing, runny nose, or postnasal drip

●        Itchy, watery, or red eyes

Think there might be mold in your ductwork? Schedule a professional duct cleaning appointment as soon as you can. If your HVAC system is always running, you can’t afford to have mold spores flying into your living areas around the clock.

Volatile Organic Compounds and Chemical Residues

Did you know that dust samples from the average home contain up to 45 potentially hazardous chemicals? Many of those chemicals are classified as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and they have a way of triggering allergy symptoms even in people who don’t suffer from seasonal allergies.

Scheduling a deep duct cleaning session can remove chemical residues from your ductwork, but if you think VOCs might be contributing to your indoor allergy symptoms, duct cleaning won't’ solve the problem entirely. You’ll need to evaluate the type of products you use in your home and do your best to use more natural alternatives to cut down on your VOC exposure.

Looking for Air Duct Cleaning in the Twin Cities?

If you’re in the market for full-service duct cleaning for your Twin Cities home, our team at Dust Doctors is at your service. We’ve refined our cleaning tools and techniques for over a decade, and you won’t find our specialty services at any other company in the metro area. Whether you’re looking for deep duct cleaning or routine maintenance service, we’ve got you covered.

Give us a call today at 651-319-9777, request a free quote online, or send us a message to get started or learn more!